Manchester United honour Sir Bobby Charlton before Champions League tie

Old Trafford celebrates the life of club legend ahead of FC Copenhagen clash

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  A tribute in memory of Sir Bobby Charlton is displayed on the outside of the stadium, following his death aged 86, ahead of the Champions League match between Manchester United and FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford. PA

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  Fans sign a book of condolence for Sir Bobby Charlton prior to the Champions League group A match at match at Old Trafford. PA

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  Tributes in memory of Sir Bobby Charlton are laid outside the stadium. PA

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  Tributes are seen laid outside the stadium before the match following the passing of former Manchester United player Sir Bobby Charlton. Reuters

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  Tributes are seen laid outside the stadium before the match. Reuters

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  A fan buys a matchday programme outside the stadium. Reuters

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  Flowers and tributes lie in front of the United Trinity statue of former players George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton outside Old Trafford. EPA

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  Tributes in memory of Sir Bobby Charlton are laid outside the stadium, following his death aged 86, ahead of the Champions League match between Manchester United and FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford. PA

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  Tributes are seen to former Manchester United player Bobby Charlton outside the stadium prior to the Champions League match between Manchester United and FC Copenhagen. Getty

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  A wreath is laid on Sir Bobby Charlton's old seat in the director's box at Old Trafford. AP

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  MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United, lays a wreath in tribute to former player Sir Bobby Charlton prior to the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and F.C. Copenhagen at Old Trafford on October 24, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / Getty Images)

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  Manchester United and FC Copenhagen players hold a minute's silence in tribute to former player Sir Bobby Charlton. Getty

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  Manchester United players hold a minute's silence in tribute to former player Sir Bobby Charlton. Getty

Manchester United paid a moving tribute to club legend Sir Bobby Charlton before Tuesday night’s Champions League group stage tie with FC Copenhagen.

Charlton, one of United and England’s greatest ever players, passed away on Saturday, aged 86.

United staged a special pre-match ceremony at Old Trafford, with a lone piper leading out manager Erik ten Hag, Charlton's former teammate Alex Stepney and youth team captain Dan Gore as they laid a wreath in the centre circle.

The tribute was followed by a minute’s silence after which the home supporters loudly sang Charlton's name. United's staff and players wore black armbands for the match.

Earlier a wreath was placed on Sir Bobby’s usual seat in the director’s box and a commemorative match-day programme was produced.

A tribute was also paid prior to United’s Uefa Youth League fixture on Tuesday at Leigh Sports Village. Charlton had always been a keen supporter of the club’s academy.

Throughout the day United fans had turned out in large numbers to sign a book of condolence opened at Old Trafford.

Further tributes are planned to take place ahead of United’s home game against near neighbours and rivals Manchester City on Sunday, including a minute’s applause before kick-off.

Stepney said: “When I got the phone call on Saturday morning, you start thinking about the great man. How he performed day in, day out, training, on the pitch.

“He was very honest, great family man. That was an obvious thing about him. Humble.

“When they opened the stand here for him, the South Stand, he had tears in his eyes.

“I said to him ‘are you OK?’ and he said ‘I don’t deserve it’. I said ‘well, you deserve everything you get from every supporter, everybody throughout the world’. He deserves all of this.”